October 17, 2013

We made do with float cushions on the battery box and storage box. There is a lot more room on the rear deck without the chairs so Jim decided to make the boxes a little bigger/taller and more comfortable.

The floor also needed a new coat of paint. So he took everything out and gave it 2 coats.

The new battery box will hold 3 house batteries instead of two. Maybe we can run the generator less.

We had 4 house batteries on the camper but we normally only need them for travel…since we stay in campgrounds or someone’s yard…with electric hookup. We now have 4 batteries in the boat…all deep cycle.

The one under the seat on the starboard side could easily be removed and put in the camper box if we felt 2 would not be enough on a long camping trip.

This will be Jim’s seat…room for a cushion behind him too.

The box on the starboard side will hold one battery and have a storage box for small stuff. That will be my seat. We need these to step over the side when at a dock or to get into the dingy. Everything has double duty.

The generator sits on the platform above the small fuel tank.

Neither of us smoke so sitting out back with our wine or coffee isn’t a problem.

We’ve been using these boat cushions in our folding chairs in the camper. Jim thought we’d be much more comfortable if we used them on the boat. I tried it and he was right. They can also be used in the bow.

If we forget the seats we can still use the float cushions…but I have a feeling these will be aboard until we go camping again.

When he changed the boxes he made a new layout for the gas tanks. This is the new look…much more foot room. One less 5 gallon tank…but before.. we had to carry two on the front bench seats …which meant lugging them through the cabin to the back. The 4 stroke Honda gets pretty good fuel mileage and there are plenty of fuel stops on the St John’s River.

We’ll also have a 2 1/2 gallon tank under the generator….and a 1 gallon can for the generator.

Everything is back together….now we can plan our next trip. The weather is getting nice for boating. Warm days and cool nights.

Jim’s next boat project? Figuring out a way to catch rain water to refill the fresh water tank.

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About Us

Jim and I laugh when we think of what we used to do..he raced Top-Fuel Dragsters and I raced Harness Horses...now we get a thrill out of 6 mph on the water...and 25mph in a Model T...We teamed up as truckdrivers and spent 15 years on the road..it gave us a taste of what it would be like to spend months at a time, together, in a small space..we still like each other..still comfortable in a small place...Jim still likes to build fast engines and just finished restoroding his 1967 Pickup. When not on the water or towing the boat to the next spot...we spend time at the carshows.